Ronit Elkabetz, a three-time winner of Israel’s version of the Oscars, has died.
Elkabetz, who won Ophir Awards for her performances in “Sh’Chur,” “Late Marriage” and “The Band’s Visit,” died April 18 of cancer. She was 51.
“Late Marriage” (2001) was Elkabetz’s first film widely viewed outside of Israel, performing particularly well in the United States, Britain and France. She played a divorced Moroccan-Israeli single mother who has an affair with a man several years younger.
Her 2003 performance in Amos Gitai’s “Alila” opened at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Camera d’Or prize for best debut. Her first film appearance was at age 26 in the starring role of Daniel Wachsmann’s “The Appointed.”
In addition to acting, the Beersheva native wrote and directed films, including “To Take a Wife” (2005), which won several international prizes. Most recently she starred in and co-directed “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (2014), nominated for best foreign film at the Golden Globe Awards. She also starred in several French films.
Elkabetz’s death “is a huge loss for the film world and for Israeli culture,” Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev said.
Since 2012, Elkabetz served as president of Achoti (My Sister), a Mizrahi feminist organization.
Elkabetz is survived by her husband, architect Avner Yashar, their 4-year-old twin sons, her parents and three brothers. — jta